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My closing statement read:
"There is only one real effective and incentive method to encourage
environmentally sound collecting of beverage one-way containers and it is
deposit in combination with High-Tech R&D resulted Reverse Vending
Machines!" |
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Returnable Containers Bill
in Belize is being battled by environmental organizations, distributors
and the general public.
| It went through its
first reading through the House of Representative the same day it was
announced that the Belize Government would nationalize Belize
Telemedia Limited. It may have not received much attention then, but
the public is listening now and the Returnable Containers Bill is
being battled by environmental organizations, distributors and the
general public. The Returnable
Containers Bill was gazetted on August 29th, 2009 and it states that a
deposit on beverage containers (the separate, sealed glass,
metal or steel bottle used for containing one US gallon or
3.785 litres or less at the time of sale of a beverage intended for
use or consumption in Belize) shall be collected by all distributors
and dealers at the time of sale or distribution.
Section 4 continues: a dealer shall
accept at his place of business from
a redeemer any empty beverage container of the design, shape, size,
color, composition and brand sold by the dealer and shall pay to the
redeemer the refund value of each such beverage container.
Section 8 states that every person
who contravenes this act is guilty of
an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not
exceeding $500 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six
months or to both such fine and period of imprisonment.
According to Government officials
this bill is being proposed as an environmental step forward. By
adding a monetary value to glass containers such as Belikin, Heinkin
and Red Stripe bottles (for example), more people would be inclined to
recycle these rather than disposing of them on our streets, beaches,
waterways or dump sites. Aluminum cans, such as Monster, Red Bull and
other imported juice cans will also take part in the Returnable
Containers Bill. As it stands right now, Bowen and Bowen, the
distributor of Belikin is the only one who pay $0.25 for every glass
container returned to their center. Should this Bill pass,
abovementioned containers and others which would fall under law would
be redeemable at a proposed $0.25. Shopkeepers or distributors who do
not redeem these may be liable to a fine or imprisonment. |
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The different
containers items also under scrutiny |
On Tuesday, October 13th,
the Chamber of Commerce joined forces with the Association of Protected
Areas Management Organization (APAMO) to voice their concerns with the
Returnable Containers Bill. Amparo Masson, President of the Chamber
commented, “In truth the environmental objectives of the Bill are not
clear. At the same time the measures that the Bill proposes will have some
costly implications to both distributors and producers.[…] The Chamber
recognizes the need for a meaningful environmental bill and proposes to
take this opportunity to work with the environmental organizations and
government in order to develop such a bill. It is our belief that the
Returnable Containers Bill in its current draft does not go far enough. It
does not make mention of either plastic or recycling and therefore cannot
possibly accomplish the implied goals of cleaning up country’s landscape
and waterways. […] The Bill besides the environmental aspect of it is
going to be costly to the distributors. I said that in my statement. It
has a lot of cost implications that maybe we’re just overlooking simply
because we want to get rid of the bottles and get them off the street. But
will it really get it off the street, what will distributors do in terms
of disposing of those bottles when you have thousands of bottles.”
| Taking part in the press
conference was the Belize Audubon Society (BAS) who issued a press
release presenting their stance on the Bill. According to the press
release, BAS is a strong supporter of legislation that will promote
the reduction, reuse or recycling of our waste material as a means of
addressing Belize’s solid waste problem. […] The Bill has good
intentions of reducing waste; however it is very limiting. By
concentrating on glass bottles and metal containers only, the Bill may
result in the increased importation of beverages in aluminum cans and
plastic bottles. But, importation is not BAS’s only concern; the Bill
does not address the recycling or disposal of the glass containers
upon their return to the distributor. Since there is no glass
recycling plant within Belize, the Bill places the responsibility on
the individual importers to buy back and dispose of these containers.
Distributor for Heineken Beer, Karl H. Menzies, has vocally opposed
the Bill claiming that it would do more harm than good. According to
Kay Menzies the Bill will prove chaotic to shopkeepers who by law will
now be required to buy back the containers stipulated on the bill.
Managing said containers once it is in their possession will bring
chaos since they will have the responsibility of returning these to
their various distributors at their own cost. Menzies states that the
Bill is being passed as environmental however, it lacks information on
how and where these items should be recycled plus it does not discuss
plastic or Styrofoam containers. “The bill could be better by
addressing plastics and recycling so we totally support the Chamber’s
view to do the right way,” stated Menzies to The San Pedro Sun. |
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There is a lot of
garbage washing up on beaches |
According to Hilly Martinez
of Belize Brewing Company they are in full support of the Bill. “There are
several reasons why we agree with the Bill. Belize Brewing does pay $0.25
for the return of our glass bottles and that is the reason why these
bottles do not remain on the streets, beaches or waterways. By adding a
value to the bottles, people feel the need to recycle them. Should the
Bill be passed I am certain that all other bottles and cans would also
have a value for the public and as such will eliminate much of the garbage
lining up on our land. This Bill is following in the footsteps of other
Caribbean countries that have passed the same Returnable Containers Laws.
I agree with the environmental organizations, plastics could be added to
the Bill. As such, an amendment can be made later on but to begin tackling
our environmental issue we need to start somewhere first,” he explained.
As for speculation that the Bill protects Belize Brewing Company, Martinez
states, “It does not protect us when we have paid the $0.25 to consumers
who return their bottles. We started paying $0.05 and today we pay $0.25.
Whatever broken bottles are accumulated, we send back to the supplier in
Guatemala and they send to pick it up and the bottles are recycled in
Guatemala. Other Belizean importers can do the same thing.”
While the Returnable
Containers Bill has not been debated at the House of Representatives, all
parties agreed that public consultations should be conducted.
Source:
http://www.sanpedrosun.net/09-392.html
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Returnable Containers Bill causes controversy (15.10.2009)
